Hair-spring compensator and regulator for watches.



. G. F. EBERHARD & H. M. GROFF.

HAIR SPRING COMPENSATOR AND REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 16, 1914. 1,181,510. r Patented May 2,1916.

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- HAIR SPRING COMPENSATOR AND REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 19I4. 1, 181,510, Patented May 2, 1916.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed January 16, 1914, Serial No. 812,500.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that we, G OR F. EBER- HARD and HOWA D M. GEOFF, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Trenton, New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Hair-Spring Compensators andRegulators for Watches, of which the followingis a specification.

It is the object of our invention to provide a simple and efiectiveorganization for facilitating the assembling of the hair spring and itsstud to a movement, and which will also enable quick and accurateadjustment of the watch into. the proper beat to be secured.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a, balancebridge having our improvements combined therewith; Fig. 2 is a sideviewof Fig. 1 with parts in section; Fig. 8 represents the compensator ofFigs. 1 and 2. in plan and side elevation, this formof compensator beingadapted to watches of middle grade; Fig. 4: shows another form ofcompensator in plan and in side elevation adapted to watches of lowgrade; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a balance bridge having associatedtherewith a regulator and a compensator; Fig. 6 is a sec tional viewsubstantially on the line 66 of Fig 5; Fig. 7 shows in plan and inelevation the regulator member; Fig. 8 shows in plan and in edge viewthe compensator member of Figs. 5 and 6.

In these drawings, 1 indicates a balance bridge of substantiallyordinary form. In Fig. 1 aportion of the hair spring is indicated at 2,and at 3 is shown a regulator having the curb-pins t to engage the hairspring, said regulator having a pointer moving over a scale and alsohaving a spht ring 5 snapped into connection with a tapered shoulder onthe balance sheet. This regulator is on the upper side of the balancebridge, whereas the compensator now to be described is located on theunder side of said bridge. This compensator shown in detail in Fig. 3may assume difierent forms, but in the construction shown it comprisesan arm" 6 having a split rin 7 provided with a tapered interior, ansnapped on the tapered shoulder 8 of the adapted to, be,

balance bridge, on which shoulder the compensator may be turned. Thecompensator carries the hair spring stud 9 which" is held frictionallyin the opening 10 formed in the split end of the arm 6. This hair springstud has the hair spring pinned or secured thereto in any ordinary way,the upper end or the stud projecting into a groove or recess on theunder side of the balance bridge, which groove is on a curve concentricwith the center of the balance bridgev dome or tapered shoulder.

It will be observed that the organization just described can be quicklyassembled, the regulator being snapped onto the tapered shoulder of thebalance bridge or balance bridge dome, and on the upper side of thebalance bridge, while the compensator 6 can be snapped into connectionwith the tapered shoulder of the balance bridge or balance bridge domeon the under side 01": the balance bridge, and by simply turning thecompensator 6 about its mounting the hair spring can be adjusted orcompensation made for irregularities in its lengthto thereby bring thewatch into proper beat.

In case of repairs being necessary, the compensator can be turned fromthe position shown in dotted lines at X in Fig. 1 to the position shownin dotted lines at Y, which will carry the hair spring stud from underthe balance bridge into eXposed posi tion, so that a new spring can bereadily inserted.

In Fig. 4: we show a form of compensator adapted for low grade watchesin which, instead of having a hair spring stud formed separately andinserted in the compensator arm, we provide the compensator with anintegral hair spring stud, as shown at 9. This may be formed by stampingthe compensator from sheet metal, together with the stud 9, and bendingthe lug or stud into the relation shown. The hair spring may be pinnedin an opening in this stud in the ordinary way.

In Figs. 5 to 8 we show an organization for high grade watchescomprising a regulator 10 having a split ring to be snapped onto thetapered shoulder 11 carried by the balance bridge, the said regulatorhaving a segment 12 which is toothed or serrated and engages a toothedor serrated disk or wheel 13 connected rigidly to a star wheel 14 whichis journaled at 15 in the balance bridge. By

turning this star wheel the serrated or toothed wheel or disk 13 willturn by way of the segment 12, the regulator arm 10, and as this armcarries the curb pins 4L regulation of the beat may be obtained in theusual manner. This regulator is on one side of the balance bridge. Onthe other side of said bridge we arrange a compensator 6' having a splitring 7 beveled on its interior and adapted to be sprung onto a beveledshoulder 8 of the balance bridge or balance bridge dome. Thiscompensator carries the hair spring stud 9 which is held by the clampingeffect of the split portion 16 of the compensator, the hair spring studbeing thrust into the opening at this split portion until its shoulder17 comes against the under side of the compensator, which therebydetermines the proper position of the opening in the stud which is toreceive the hair spring, indicated at 2. The balance wheel is indicatedat 18. For adjusting the compensator it is provided with a segmental.face or edge 19 engaged by a serrated disk or wheel 20, this disk beingformed or provided with a journal portion 21 bearing in the bridge andhaving at its upper end a star wheel 22, which is accessible from theupper side of the bridge, and for this purpose the regulator arm isprovided with an opening as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 at 23. The two starwheels, the center of the balance bridge or dome, and the screw 2i forholding the bridge in place have their centers in the same line. Bothadjustments, 2'. 6., the regulator and the compensator ad justment, canbe effected from the upper side of the bridge, and suitable scales areprovided at a and b so that the amount of adjustment may be determinedaccurately. The star wheel 14 is arranged in a socket of the balancebridge.

In Fig. 7 we show spring portions 25 connecting the main portion of theregulator arm with the segmental toothed portion, the purpose being tokeep the segment in mesh with the toothed adjusting wheel 13.

In Fig. i the compensator is provided with an extension 26 which may beused as a handle to adjust the compensator. Such a handle may also beformed on the compensator of Fig. 8. Furthermore, the compensator ofFig. 8 may be formed with an integral lug to serve as a hair spring studshould this be desired.

lVe claim 1. In a watch movement, a balance bridge, a hair spring, acompensator on the underside of the bridge movably mounted and a hairspring stud carried by said compensator and moved by the movementthereof to a position under said bridge or to an exposed position to oneside of said brid said hair spring stud projecting from t e compensator,and the said bridge having a groove to receive the projecting end of thehair spring stud, substantially as described.

:2. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hairspring stud mounted to move under said bridge, a regulator mounted onthe other side of the bridge, and means for adjusting the regulator andthe compensator from the same side of the bridge, substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hair springstud mounted to move under said bridge, a regulator mounted on the otherside of the bridge, and means for adjusting the regulator and thecompensator from the same side of the bridge, said means comprising twostar wheels connected respectively to the compensator and regulator,substantially as described.

at. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hairspring stud mounted to more under said bridge, a regulator mounted onthe other side of the bridge and means for adjusting the regulator andthe compensator from the same side of the bridge, said regulator havingan opening to permit access to the adjusting means of the compensator.

5. In combination a bridge, a regulator on one side thereof, acompensator carrying a hair spring stud on the other side of the bridge,two star wheels located on the same side of the bridge with theregulator, a connection extending from one star Wheel through the bridgeto the compensator, and a connection between the other star wheel andthe regulator, said regulator having an opening through which access maybe had to the star wheel of the compensator, substantially as described.

6. In combination a balance bridge, a regulator mounted on one side ofthe bridge and carrying the curb pins for engaging the hair spring and acompensator mounted on the underside of the bridge and carrying a. hairspring stud movable to a position under the bridge or to an exposedposition according to the adjustment of the said compensator,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. F. EBERHARD. HOWARD M. GROFF.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES H. MARGERUM, JoI-IN BATES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

